Strong political will only recipe to resolve vexed Meghalaya-Assam boundary dispute: Mukul Sangma

(Image: File Photo)

SHILLONG: 

Leader of the Meghalaya Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Dr Mukul Sangma on Saturday said that strong political will is the only recipe that can resolve the long-pending and vexed interstate boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam. 

"This strong political will has to come from all the states because we are talking about problems pertaining to the boundary. You cannot resolve it alone. Therefore, the strong political will has to come from both sides of the boundary," Sangma said. 

The former chief minister said engaging all the stakeholders and taking everyone on board is pertinent to come up with acceptable terms and conditions which can be considered as mutually acceptable by both sides. 

Revisiting his time as the chief minister, Sangma said, "Based on my exhaustive due diligence on this problem, if you want to resolve it, you have to discuss and take everyone on board. There is no other way."

The CLP recently discussed this long-pending and elusive issue where the Opposition leader admitted that "ultimately" getting everyone on board including the Congress party, is the only way. 

Meanwhile, reacting to rumours regarding the Congress party, Sangma said, "I am happy that I have been able to be part of the team in the process of building this state. And I have got the platform and that platform is the Indian National Congress. It is the right platform for everybody including leaders of BJP, to come and join and be part of the team."

The boundary disputes between the two states continue to remain an unresolved issue with past governments of both states failing to come up with a permanent solution. 

Recently, the chief ministers of both states - Conrad K Sangma and Himanta Biswa Sarma held the first official meeting in Shillong on the issue where it was agreed upon by both the CMs to go beyond the status quo and consider redrawing the map. 

However, just days after the meeting, a clash between the border residents of Meghalaya and Assam police erupted at Iongkhuli under Jirang constituency on July 26, the same day the Assam-Mizoram violent clash broke out. 

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.

ALSO WATCH: